Reis naar Pridnestrovie met Anton Dendemarchenko - dagtocht

I first met Anton back in 2016. Rather: he met me by walking up to me and introducing himself. We've since kept in touch and when I came back to Tiraspol a few days ago, apart from catching up and discovering how time flies, we decided to do a day trip to the southern tip of PMR: Dnestrovsk, where you can swim in a lake, see Ukraine at the other shore and hang with locals like a local. We picked up snacks and drinks en route and stopped at a couple of villages for photo ops and history lessons. I can recommend Anton as a guide, but he's also a great person to be around. If you're lucky, he'll run into you in the streets of Tiraspol. If you're thinking ahead: get in touch and arrange an activity with him.

I just did a one-day personalized tour of Tiraspol and its surroundings with Anton, completely focused on my interests. Between his kindness, his ability to listen, and his desire to truly share his life experiences, it was like visiting these places accompanied by a dear friend. And I believe it was a great added value to have chosen a truly local guide, whose knowledge is not limited to iconic monuments. This day, intense with discoveries and food for thought, will certainly remain etched in my memory for a long time. I highly recommend trusting him.

If you want to visit Tiraspol and Pridnestrovie (wrongly called Transnistria), there is only one choice: contact Anton. Besides being an amazing guide who knows the city and the country like the back of his hand, Anton will give you a truly immersive experience by introducing you to the realities of this very unique nation. Highly knowledgeable and yet very friendly, he turns tourists into travelers, and thanks to him, you will have the opportunity to hear valuable first-hand insights from locals. Either way, the day will be custom-tailored to your interests and the kind of experience you want to get out of it. I think you get the picture—I recommend Anton 100%!

Outside of the classic tours found online, Anton welcomed us and accompanied us on an authentic experience, allowing us to understand, km after km, how the people of a State-non-State live. Out of respect for the secrecy that makes this tour so special, I will not reveal the stops. It is a journey that invites you, however, to observe, listen, and reflect, asking questions to which, perhaps, even today it is not possible to give a single answer. More than a simple visit, it is an experience that leaves food for thought and allows you to get closer to the history, culture, and daily life of a unique place.

Anton and his driver, Dima, are true superstars. I reached out very, very last minute to see if there was any availability and I was more than accommodated. This was my last place in the former USSR to explore and Anton made it personal for me. I’m no stranger to this part of the world and had complex questions and a more rigorous set of desires than the average visitor; he took this on with stride and asked thought-provoking questions and had a healthy perspective about complex issues. I 100% recommend this tour to anyone looking for a true local experience in Pridnestrovie.

My day with Anton was amazing! I felt like I got to see what life is Pridnestrova is like from a local. It also felt nice to be able support the people that actually live there rather than a tour company from outside the country. Anton is such a talented story teller and he puts his heart into his tours. He makes sure to customize them to what you would like to see! It was just me and one friend and he drove us around in his car. It was nice being in an everyday vehicle rather than a clunky tourist bus! We stayed with him for the day! I recommend for anyone that wants to learn the local experience and have conversations with other people that live in Pridenestrova! Love from the USA and Hawaii! Thank you for a wonderful day!!

Anton is an intellectual with a strong knowledge of history. However, I was not satisfied with the experience, as he often slept in the car and took frequent breaks. For €100, we could have visited many more places and seen more mosaics. Instead, he was tired and preferred to park the car and rest, while we continued exploring on foot.

If you want an authentic, deeply moving experience that goes far beyond the standard tourist path, look no further. Weeks after our meeting, the memories of what Anton shared with us are still incredibly vivid. Our chats and strolls with Anton at his place gave us a true glimpse into what it actually means to live in a place that lacks international political recognition.

Today was one of the most unforgettable days of my trip and I owe that entirely to Anton! We visited Bender and Tiraspol together, the heart of Pridnestrovie, one of the least known and most fascinating places in this part of the world. Anton was not simply a tour guide in the conventional sense, he was a host, a storyteller, and someone who genuinely shares a piece of himself with the people he takes along. What made the day so special was not the ticking off of sights, but the way Anton led us through his life, his perspective, and his home. It felt far less like an organised tour and much more like a long walk through the eyes of someone who does not just know this place, but truly understands and loves it. Anton spared no effort: he showed us everything worth seeing and explained the historical and political context. Pridnestrovie is definitely a place that stays with you. Travelling there alone, I would no doubt have had an interesting day, but with Anton the experience gained a depth I could never have found by myself. He offered me a shift in perspective that you rarely get to hope for when travelling. If you have even the slightest interest in this region, in history, in unresolved borders, in people living their everyday lives inside a political grey zone, I cannot recommend a day with Anton highly enough!

Anton provided us with an unforgettable experience in Transnistria (a Pridnestrovia -he will explain the difference of the name, it is not only a synonim). He truly immersed us in the local culture by introducing us to the people and giving us an authentic taste of life in the region. One of the highlights was crossing the river on a manual ferry, just like the locals do. He also took us to see the train that connects Odessa to Chișinău, which added a unique touch to our journey. Additionally, he organized our pick-up from Chișinău and ensured we were safely returned the next day. Anton's passion and knowledge made our visit truly special, and we are grateful for the memories we created together. ​